Paraclip adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter for a QD socket is disclosed. The adapter has a connection post having a plurality of tabs movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration defines a maximum effective outer diameter of the connection post, and the second configuration defines a minimum effective outer diameter of the connection post. A method of modifying a quick disconnect attachment is also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/581,544 filed Dec. 23, 2014 and entitled “PARACLIP ADAPTER,” whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/926,195, filedJan. 10, 2014, and entitled “QUICK DETACH PARACLIP ADAPTER,” the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all properpurposes.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms accessories. Inparticular, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure relatesto systems, methods and apparatuses for quickly attaching and detachingan adapter to a firearm configured for coupling to a sling.

BACKGROUND

Slings are regularly used with firearms to allow for a convenient methodof carry and for weapon retention in dynamic environments. Traditionalslings mount onto the bottom of a weapon at two points, fore and aft,allowing for suitable carry over long distances and may be used as asteadying aid to improve weapon accuracy. While it offers the user theability to carry the weapon comfortably over the shoulder or securelyacross the back, the traditional, bottom-mounted 2-point sling hindersweapon usage in dynamic combat environments since the weapon is stowedin a non-useable orientation. While 2-point slings may be used in combatas an accuracy aid by being wrapped around the arm or other techniques,this encumbers the user through entanglement in the sling itself and ismostly useful only for long-range engagements.

Due to these limitations, side-mounted 2-point or 3-point slings weredeveloped to allow for improved usage as these systems allow the user tocarry a weapon comfortably on the front of the body in a usablelow-ready position instead of over the back or shoulder. These systemstypically incorporate the ability to carry over-the-back or shoulder,like a traditional sling, since these carry positions are useful forclimbing, swimming, low (belly) crawling or when maximum frontaldexterity is needed when carrying supplies or wounded. While theseslings were a major improvement over the traditional sling, theyprimarily were intended for use from a single-side and require manualadjustment to allow for transitions from side-to-side in dynamicsituations. Additionally, due to the amount of strap material used towrap around the body, they can also interfere with chest-mountedequipment, such as on load-bearing vests. Traditionally, sling swivelshave been used to secure slings to the weapon. These swivels have takenmany forms but they all have similar characteristics: namely, they arerotatable (swivel) about a point and are usually an elongated loopthrough which sling material may be threaded. They have been positionedon either side of the weapon, so that the sling may be said to bemounted on either side, or on the upper and lower surfaces of theweapon, so that the sling may be said to be mounted along the weapon, ora combination thereof.

However, such swivel slings can encumber or entangle the user and thusrequire quick detachment from the firearm. The quick detach or “QD”interface was thus developed in order to enable rapid removal of a slingfrom a firearm. The QD interface includes a “QD socket” including afemale portion of the interface and a QD body including a male portionof the interface. The QD socket (sometimes referred to as a “swivelsocket”) typically includes an axial cavity sometimes having an annularring into which a portion of the QD body can selectively couple to. TheQD body typically includes some type of loop or bail for eitherthreading a sling through or for coupling to via a clip such as the snapclip illustrated in U.S. Design Pat. 679,580 or as described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,544,153. The QD body also typically includes a “connectionpost” that fits into and interfaces with the axial cavity of the QDsocket. In particular, many QD bodies feature an internal spring loadedplunger that biases a plurality of ball bearings through the QDconnection post. The ball bearings then interface with a ridge in a QDsocket and hold the QD body in place. When desired, the user depressesthe plunger and the bias on the ball bearings is removed, allowing themto roll into the casing and thereby allowing the QD body to be removedfrom the QD socket.

Some exemplary QD sockets include the EZ CARBINE QD SWIVEL ATTACHMENTPOINT from DANIEL DEFENSE, and the RAIL MOUNT QD SLING SWIVEL fromDANIEL DEFENSE, to name a few. Some exemplary QD bodies include theQUICK-DETACH SLING SWIVEL from VLTOR WEAPON SYSTEMS, the QD SLING SWIVELfrom DAMAGE INDUSTRIES, the QD SWIVEL from DANIEL DEFENSE, and the HEAVYDUTY FLUSH BUTTON SWIVEL from MI, to name a few.

Popularity of the QD interface has led manufacturers to include QDsockets on many firearms and firearms accessories and has led many usersto add QD sockets to their firearms. However, the QD body is often largeand adds weight to a firearm. Also, the QD interface is believed by someto be vulnerable to detachment under severe static and dynamic forcesituations. Thus, there is a need for an adapter able to couple to a QDsocket but having lighter weight, smaller size, and a more reliableand/or semi-permanent coupling mechanism than existing QD bodies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention that are shown in thedrawings are summarized below. These and other embodiments are morefully described in the Detailed Description section. It is to beunderstood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventionto the forms described in this Summary of the Invention or in theDetailed Description. One skilled in the art can recognize that thereare numerous modifications, equivalents and alternative constructionsthat fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed inthe claims.

The present invention can provide a system and method for modifying a QDconnection.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention can include anadapter for a QD socket. The adapter has a first post portion having alongitudinal axis, a loop, and a first contact tab shaped to interfacewith a QD socket, and a second post portion having a second contact tabshaped to interface with a QD socket. The second post portion is coupledto the first post portion and movable between a first configurationdefining a first transverse distance between the first and secondcontact tabs and a second configuration defining a second transversedistance between the first and second contact tabs. The first transversedistance is greater than the second transverse distance.

Another exemplary embodiment includes a method of modifying a quickdisconnect attachment. The method includes providing an adapter assemblyhaving a plurality of contact tabs, the plurality of contact tabsmovable between a first configuration having a first transverse distancebetween the plurality of contact tabs and a second configuration havinga second transverse distance between the plurality of contact tabs, thefirst transverse distance greater than the second transverse distance.The method further includes loosening the adapter assembly to cause theadapter assembly to move from the first configuration to the secondconfiguration. The method further includes inserting a distal portion ofthe adapter into a QD socket, and orienting a loop on the adapterassembly to a desired position. The method further includes tighteningthe adapter assembly to cause the adapter assembly to move from thesecond configuration to an engagement configuration wherein the firstand second contact tabs engage the QD socket to maintain the adapterassembly attached to the QD socket in a semi-permanent manner.

Another exemplary embodiment includes an adapter for a QD socket havinga connection post having a plurality of contact tabs movable relative toeach other between a first configuration and a second configuration. Thefirst configuration defines a maximum effective outer diameter of theconnection post, and the second configuration defines a minimumeffective outer diameter of the connection post.

As previously stated, the above-described embodiments andimplementations are for illustration purposes only. Numerous otherembodiments, implementations, and details of the invention are easilyrecognized by those of skill in the art from the following descriptionsand claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of thepresent invention are apparent and more readily appreciated by referenceto the following Detailed Description and to the appended claims whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a wedging QD adapter;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a rear view of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4B is a rear view of the upper portion of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the upper portion of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A is a bottom view of the adapter in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of an alternative adapter having an alternativetab;

FIG. 6C is a bottom view of another alternative adapter having anotheralternative tab;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the upper portion of the adapter in FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the lower portion of the adapter in FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another alternative adapter having awedging ring;

FIG. 9A is an isometric exploded view of the alternative adapter in FIG.9;

FIG. 9B is a rear exploded view of the alternative adapter in FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of another alternative adapter havinganother wedging feature;

FIG. 10A is an exploded isometric view of the upper portion and lowerportion of the another alternative adapter in FIG. 10;

FIG. 10B is an exploded rear view of the upper portion and lower portionof the another alternative adapter in FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of another alternative adapter having awedging prong;

FIG. 11A is an exploded isometric view of the upper portion and lowerportion of the another alternative adapter in FIG. 11;

FIG. 11B is an exploded front view of the upper portion and lowerportion of the another alternative adapter in FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an exemplary QD socket used with anembodiment of the adapter; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments.

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms accessories. Inparticular, but not by way of limitation, the present disclosure relatesto systems, methods and apparatuses for quickly attaching and detachingan adapter to a firearm configured for coupling to a sling.

Herein disclosed is an adapter that avoids the weight and size of atraditional QD body by using a smaller and lighter fixed loop or otherfixed attachment point. Overcoming the risk of a traditional QD bodyunintentionally detaching from a QD socket, the herein disclosed adapterincludes various attachment means used to fix the adapter to a QD socket(either allowing some, minimal, or no rotation depending on the QDsocket) in a semi-permanent manner. In one embodiment, a wedged designis used (see FIGS. 1-8) wherein turning of a screw that passes throughthe adapter changes an effective outer diameter of a connection post ofthe adapter by pulling an upper and lower portion of the connection posttogether vertically and forcing them apart laterally. In someembodiments, the effective outer diameter can be greater than an innerdiameter of the QD socket.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a novel wedging adapter according to oneembodiment of this disclosure. The illustrated wedging QD body 100includes a loop that can be clipped into via a sling. The QD body 100also includes a connection post 108 affixed to the connection post 108and including an upper portion 102 of the connection post 108 and alower portion 104 of the connection post 108. The adapter 100 can betightened and coupled into a QD socket by tightening a screw 110(although illustrated as a hex screw, other types of screws can also beused). The screw 110 passes generally longitudinally through an elongateslot in the upper portion 102 and screws into a threaded opening in thelower portion 104. As the screw 110 tightens, the upper portion 102 andthe lower portion 104 are drawn together. However, when the two portions102, 104 meet at an angled interface 112, continued rotation of thescrew 110 continues to apply vertical force between the two portions102, 104 causing the upper and lower portions 102, 104 to move laterallyrelative to each other and thereby causing an increase in an effectiveouter diameter of the connection post 108. In the illustratedembodiment, as the screw 110 is tightened, the upper portion 102 wouldmove out of the page and to the left of the page while the lower portion104 would move into the page and to the right of the page.

The direction of lateral movement can be controlled by an optional guideridge 114 in the lower portion 104 that interfaces with an optionalguide valley 116 in the upper portion 102. The optional guide ridge 114and the optional guide valley 116 can be shaped and sized so as to fitinto each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide ridge 114 andthe guide valley 116 are arranged parallel to a plane that passesthrough the adapter from a front to a back and from a top to a bottom ofthe adapter 100. In some embodiments, the guide ridge 114 has a seat 114a that has an abutting surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis ofthe connection post and a nesting seat 114 b having an abutting surfaceparallel to the longitudinal axis. In other non-illustrated embodiments,other planes for lateral movement can be used and thereby effectdifferent directions of lateral movement between the upper and lowerportions 102, 104.

The connection post 108 includes a tab 118 on a front side (part of theupper portion 102) and a tab 120 on a back side (part of the lowerportion 104). As the upper and lower portions 102, 104 move laterallyrelative to each other, the tabs 118, 120 move laterally apart and thusincrease an effective outer diameter of the connection post 108 andhence enable the tabs 118, 120 to lock into an annular groove in a QDsocket. While mere pressure from the adapter 100 on the inner diameterof a QD socket can prevent swiveling of the adapter 100, in some cases aQD socket can include a discontinuous annular groove or other openingsin a side of the QD socket that the tabs 118, 120 can fit into andthereby prevent swiveling of the adapter, or at least prevent more thana set amount of swiveling.

The screw 110 passes through an elongated slot 130 in the upper portion102 as seen in FIGS. 5B and 7. The elongated slot 130 enables the screw110 to move laterally relative to the upper portion 102. Since the screw110 couples to an internal threading of the lower portion 104, the screw110 does not move laterally relative to the lower portion 104. However,as the screw 110 is tightened and loosened it moves laterally relativeto the upper portion 104 and thus the elongated slot 130 allows thislateral movement. The longer dimension of the elongated slot 130 can bearranged parallel to the axis of lateral movement of the upper and lowerportions 102, 104 relative to each other.

An effective outer diameter of the adapter 100 has been discussedthroughout this disclosure. The effective outer diameter is a maximumdiameter of portions of the connection post 108 that interface with a QDsocket as illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the upper and lowerportions 102, 104 when the screw 110 is relatively loose, and hence theeffective outer diameter of the connection post 108 is near a minimum.As the screw 110 tightens, the lower portion 104 would move to the rightand the upper portion 102 would move to the left, relative to each otheron the page. As can be seen, this causes the effective outer diameter ofthe connection post 108 to increase and in this way a tight interfacecan be formed between the connection post 108 and a QD socket. Theeffective outer diameter D is defined by a transverse distance betweenthe two tabs 118, 120. It should be understood that, although the tabs118, 120 are shown opposing one another, the tabs 118, 120 need notnecessarily be 180 degrees apart. FIG. 4A illustrates a back view of theadapter 100 in FIG. 3, including the tab 120 for interfacing with a QDsocket, and a guide mechanism 117. The guide mechanism 117 is shown witha guide ridge 114 in the lower portion 104 interfacing with a guidevalley 116 in the upper portion 102, to limit rotation of the upperportion 102 relative to the lower portion 104. FIG. 4B illustrates aback view of the upper portion 102 and guide valley 116 therein. FIGS. 7and 8 illustrate isometric views of the features in further detail,including an optional deflashing surface 115, wherein excess materialhas been removed after a molding operation. Specifically, although theassembly 100 may include a deflashing surface 115, depending on themanufacturing method chosen, the surface may be absent in someembodiments.

In some embodiments, and as illustrated in FIGS. 7-8, the adapter mayhave a travel stop 103, 109. The travel stop 103 has a first contactsurface 105 in a first post portion, which may be the upper portion 102,and the first contact surface 105 is perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the first post portion. The travel stop 103 also has a secondcontact surface 107 in the first post portion that is parallel to thelongitudinal axis. The first contact surface 105 defines the firstconfiguration and the second contact surface 107 defines the secondconfiguration.

The angled interface 112 can have an angle of approximately 30° whenmeasured relative to a horizontal plane passing through front, rear, andsides of the adapter 100 (i.e., parallel to the page in FIG. 5A).However, other angles are also envisioned and those between 15° and 45°may be preferred where greater lateral forces and/or lateral movement ofthe upper and lower portions 102, 104 relative to each other aredesired.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that the tab 118 has a semi-circular profile asviewed from the front. While this can be effective for certainapplications and certain QD sockets, it is not required, and othershapes and sizes of tabs 118 and 120 can be implemented. For instance,FIGS. 6B-6C illustrate some other embodiments of the tab 118. As seen, acommon feature is that the tab 118 fits within an imaginary semicirclethat corresponds to, or is slightly greater than an inner diameter of aQD socket (e.g., a 0.375″ diameter semi-circle).

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 6A-6C, the lower portion 104 is notperfectly circular. In the illustrated embodiment, a front half of thelower portion 104 has a circular shape while the rear half has anelliptical or offset circular shape. It can also be seen that the tab120 should fit into an imaginary circle that mimics the radius of thefront half and then extends this radius to the back half. This radiuscan be equal to or wider than an inner radius of a QD socket.Additionally, FIGS. 6B-6C have been illustrated with exaggerated scalesin order to more clearly show the elliptical or offset circular natureof the rear half (or rear portion) of the lower portion 104.

While a loop 106 has been illustrated and described, this attachmentmeans is not limited to a loop or to the particular shape of a loopshown and described. Other attachment means may also be implementedwithout deviating from the intent and scope of this disclosure.

In some alternative embodiments, the adapter 100 can exclude one or bothof the tabs 118, 120. For instance, where no tabs are implemented, theQD socket to which the adapter 100 is to be coupled may not have anannular groove for the tabs 118, 120 to engage.

While a guide ridge and valley 114, 116 have been illustrated, otheralignment or guidance mechanisms can be used to ensure that the upperand lower portion 102, 104 move laterally relative to each other along asingle plane.

While a screw 110 has been illustrated and described as the mechanism toapply force between the upper and lower portions 102, 104 and therebyexpand or decrease the effective outer diameter of the connection post108 interfacing with a QD socket, other means can be used such as ascrew passing through slots in both the upper and lower portions 102,104 (no threading) and a washer or nut below the lower portion 104. Thisis just one non-limiting example of other means that can be used toapply vertical force between the upper and lower portions 102, 104.

FIG. 6A is a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment of a wedgingadapter having an alternative shape to the tab 120 on the lower portion104. FIG. 6B is a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment of awedging adapter having another alternative shape to the tab 120 on thelower portion 104. From these two examples it should be apparent thatvarious shapes and sizes of the tab 120 can be implemented as long asthe shape and size of the tab fits within a circle having an imaginarycircle congruent with a front half of the lower portion 104 and having adiameter equal to or greater than an inner diameter of a QD socket to beinterfaced with.

Turning now to FIGS. 9, 9A, and 9B, another embodiment of an adapterassembly 200 is now described. While the adapter assembly 200 nowdescribed has the general functionality of the embodiment shown in FIG.1, the features and manner of operation is slightly different. Here, theassembly 200 has a screw 210 coupling a loop 206 to a lower portion 204,with an interface ring 232 therebetween. The interface ring 232 has oneor more tabs 220 that may interface with a QD socket. A loop 206 may beprovided as an attachment interface.

With specific reference to FIG. 9B, tightening the screw 210 causes theupper portion 202 of the assembly 200 to move closer to the lowerportion 204. As the upper and lower portions 202, 204 approach oneanother, angled surfaces 234, 236 in the upper and lower portions 202,204 respectively cause the interface ring 232 to expand outwardly,thereby increasing the effective overall diameter of the interface ring232.

The interface ring 232 may be manufactured of a material that is moreelastic than the upper and lower portions 202, 204.

Turning now to FIGS. 10, 10A, and 10B, a third embodiment of theassembly 300 is now described. The assembly 300 is similar to assembly200, with a loop 306, an upper portion 302, a lower portion 304, and ascrew 310 attaching the upper and lower portions 302, 304. With specificreference to FIG. 10B, tightening the screw 310 (not shown in FIG. 10Bto add clarity) causes the upper portion 302 to approach the lowerportion 304. As the upper portion 302 approaches, one or more angledinterfaces between the upper and lower portions 302, 304 causes theupper portion 302 to expand. The upper portion 302 has one or more tabs320 that expand with the upper portion thereby increasing the overalleffective diameter of the upper portion 302 to interface with a QDsocket. A guide ridge 314 and a guide valley 316 may further beincluded, so as to limit relative rotation between the upper and lowerportions 302, 304.

Although illustrated in FIGS. 10-10B as having an upper portion 302 thatexpands, it should be understood that the features and functionality maybe reversed, such that the lower portion 304 expands as the upper andlower portions 302, 304 approach one another, to cause an effectiveoverall diameter to be increased for interfacing with a QD socket.

Turning now to FIGS. 11, 11A, and 11B, a fourth embodiment of theassembly 400 is now described. The assembly 400 has an attachmentinterface 406 attached to an upper portion 402 which is, in turn,coupled to a lower portion 404 using a screw 410. The lower portion 404has one or more tabs 420 that are caused to expand as the screw 410 istightened. One or more of the tabs 420 may have an upper region 434 forinterfacing with an angled surface 436 in the upper portion 402 to aidein expansion. As the tabs 420 are expanded, they increase the overalleffective diameter of the adapter 400 for interfacing with a QD socket.Specifically, the upper region 434 of the tabs 420 may interface with alip in a QD socket. The assembly 400 may also have a guide mechanismhaving a guide ridge 414 and a guide valley 416 in the upper and lowerportions 402, 404 respectively, so as to prevent rotation of the upperportion 402 relative to the lower portion 404.

With brief reference now to FIG. 12, one embodiment of a typical QDsocket 500 is shown. The QD socket 500 generally has an interior groove502 into which tabs, such as tabs 118, 120, 220, 320, 420 may expand ormove, so as to engage the QD socket 500 in a semi-permanent manner, thatis, until the assembly 100, 200, 300, 400 is loosened and removedmanually.

Turning now to FIG. 13, a method 600 of modifying a quick disconnectinterface into a semi-permanent attachment point is now described. Themethod 600 comprises providing 602 an adapter assembly having aplurality of tabs, the plurality of tabs movable between a firstconfiguration having a first transverse distance between the pluralityof tabs and a second configuration having a second transverse distancebetween the plurality of tabs, the first transverse distance greaterthan the second transverse distance.

The method 600 further includes loosening 604 the adapter assembly toallow the adapter assembly to move from the first configuration to thesecond configuration.

The method 600 further includes inserting 606 a distal portion of theadapter into a quick disconnect (QD) socket.

The method 600 further includes orienting 608 an accessory attachmentinterface on the adapter assembly to a desired position. In someembodiments, the accessory attachment interface is a loop.

The method 600 further includes tightening 610 the adapter assembly tocause the adapter assembly to move from the second configuration to anengagement configuration wherein the first and second tabs engage the QDsocket to selectively couple the adapter assembly to the QD socket.

The method 600 may include limiting rotation of a second post portion ofthe adapter assembly relative to a first post portion of the adapterassembly and/or limiting the second post portion to travel between thefirst configuration and the second configuration.

The method 600 may include causing a first seat in the first postportion to contact a perpendicular contact surface in the firstconfiguration, and causing a second seat in the first post portion tocontact a parallel contact surface in the second configuration. Themethod 600 may include causing a first contact surface in the first postportion to contact a first contact surface in the second post portion inthe first configuration, the first contact surface in the second postportion perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second post portion.The method 600 may also include causing a second contact surface in thefirst post portion to contact a second contact surface in the secondpost portion in the second configuration, the second contact surface inthe second post portion parallel to the longitudinal axis of the secondpost portion. See, for example, the first contact surface 105 in FIG. 7,the first contact surface 109 in FIG. 8, the second contact surface(s)107 in FIG. 7, and the second contact surface(s) 111 in FIG. 8.

The method 600 may include adjusting a fastener to cause the adapterassembly to move between the first configuration and the secondconfiguration and/or causing the plurality of tabs to interface with oneof a continuous annular groove in a QD socket, a discontinuous annulargroove in a QD socket, and a plurality of openings in a QD socket.

In some embodiments, loosening 604 includes causing transverse movementof a first portion of the adapter assembly relative to a second portionof the adapter assembly, thereby narrowing an effective outer diameterof the distal portion of the adapter assembly, and tightening 610includes causing transverse movement of the first portion relative tothe second portion, thereby widening an effective outer diameter of thedistal portion of the adapter assembly.

The method 600 may be practiced using one or more of the adapterassemblies 100, 200, 300, 400 described with reference to FIGS. 1-12.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to beaccorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An adapter for a QD socket, comprising: a firstpost portion having a proximal region, a distal region, a longitudinalaxis extending between the proximal region and the distal region, aloop, and a first tab shaped to interface with a QD socket; a secondpost portion having a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinalaxis of the first post portion, a second tab shaped to interface withthe QD socket; and a guide mechanism shaped to limit rotation of thesecond post portion relative to the first post portion, the guidemechanism having a guide ridge in one of the first post portion or thesecond post portion interfacing with a guide valley in the other one ofthe first post portion or the second post portion; wherein the secondpost portion is coupled to the first post portion and translatable alongthe longitudinal axis of the first post portion between a firstconfiguration defining a first transverse distance between the first andsecond tabs and a second configuration defining a second transversedistance between the first and second tabs, the first transversedistance greater than the second transverse distance; and wherein thesecond post portion is positioned closer to the proximal region of thefirst post portion in the first configuration than in the secondconfiguration.
 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein: the guide ridge is inthe second post portion and the guide valley is in the first postportion.
 3. The adapter of claim 2, wherein: the guide mechanism furthercomprises a travel stop shaped to limit the second post portion totravel between the first configuration and the second configuration. 4.The adapter of claim 3, wherein: the travel stop comprises a first seatin the first post portion, the first seat comprising a first contactsurface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first postportion; and the travel stop comprises a second seat in the first postportion, the second seat comprising a second contact surface parallel tothe longitudinal axis; and further wherein the first seat defines thefirst configuration and the second seat defines the secondconfiguration.
 5. The adapter of claim 1, wherein: the second postportion abuts the first post portion at an angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the first post portion, the angle between 15degrees and 45 degrees; and a fastener couples the first and second postportions, wherein adjustment of the fastener causes the first and secondpost portions to slide relative to each other.
 6. The adapter of claim1, further comprising: a through passage in the first post portion, thethrough passage shaped to allow a fastener to pass therethrough and toallow the fastener to translate transversely relative to thelongitudinal axis; and a fastener engagement in the second post portion,the fastener engagement shaped to allow the second post portion totranslate longitudinally relative to the fastener.
 7. The adapter ofclaim 1, wherein: the second post portion is shaped to pass into aminimum diameter of a QD socket when the adapter is in the secondconfiguration.
 8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first and secondtabs are shaped to interface with one of a continuous annular groove ina QD socket, a discontinuous annular groove in a QD socket, and aplurality of openings in a QD socket.
 9. A method of modifying a quickdisconnect interface into a semi-permanent attachment point, comprising:providing an adapter assembly having a plurality of tabs, the pluralityof tabs movable between a first configuration having a first transversedistance between the plurality of tabs and a second configuration havinga second transverse distance between the plurality of tabs, the firsttransverse distance greater than the second transverse distance;adjusting the adapter assembly to the second configuration; inserting adistal portion of the adapter into a quick disconnect (QD) socket;orienting an accessory attachment interface on the adapter assembly to adesired position; adjusting the adapter assembly to the firstconfiguration wherein the first and second tabs engage an interiorrecess in the QD socket to selectively couple the adapter assembly tothe QD socket; causing a first seat in the first post portion to contacta first contact surface in the first configuration; and causing a secondseat in the first post portion to contact a second contact surface inthe second configuration.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:limiting rotation of a second post portion of the adapter assemblyrelative to a first post portion of the adapter assembly.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: limiting the second post portion totravel between the first configuration and the second configuration. 12.The method of claim 10, wherein: the first contact surface is aperpendicular contact surface; and the second contact surface is aparallel contact surface.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:adjusting a fastener to cause the adapter assembly to move between thefirst configuration and the second configuration.
 14. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: causing the plurality of tabs to interfacewith one of a continuous annular groove in a QD socket, a discontinuousannular groove in a QD socket, and a plurality of openings in a QDsocket.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein: the accessory attachmentinterface is a loop.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein: adjusting tothe first configuration comprises causing transverse movement of a firstportion of the adapter assembly relative to a second portion of theadapter assembly, thereby narrowing an effective outer diameter of thedistal portion of the adapter assembly; and adjusting to the secondconfiguration comprises causing transverse movement of the first portionrelative to the second portion, thereby widening an effective outerdiameter of the distal portion of the adapter assembly.
 17. An adapterfor a quick disconnect (QD) socket, comprising: a connection post havinga first tab and a second tab movable relative to each other between afirst configuration and a second configuration, the first configurationdefining a maximum effective outer diameter of the connection post, andthe second configuration defining a minimum effective outer diameter ofthe connection post; a travel stop configured to limit the connectionpost to movement between the first configuration and the secondconfiguration; and a threaded fastener coupling the first tab and thesecond tab; wherein the first tab and the second tab are in a planeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connection post in the firstconfiguration and not in the second configuration.
 18. The adapter ofclaim 17, further comprising: a guide mechanism shaped to limit rotationof the first and second tabs relative to one another.
 19. The adapter ofclaim 17, wherein: the travel stop comprises a first contact surfaceperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the connection post and a secondcontact surface parallel to the longitudinal axis; and further whereinthe first contact surface defines the first configuration and the secondcontact surface defines the second configuration.
 20. The adapter ofclaim 17, wherein: at least one of the first and second tabs is movableat an angle relative to another of the first and second tabs at anangle, the angle between 15 degrees and 45 degrees.
 21. The adapter ofclaim 17, further comprising: a fastener engagement in the connectionpost, the fastener engagement shaped to allow adjustment of the fastenerto move the first and second tabs between the first configuration andthe second configuration.